Trend justification: The population is decreasing owing to over-use of pesticides and improved locust control, agricultural intensification and destruction of nests by farm machinery and loss of small mammal and bird prey species due to changing agricultural practices (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

Country/Territory distribution

Country/Territory

Occurrence status

Presence

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Resident

Afghanistan

Native

Extant

Yes

Albania

Native

Extant

Algeria

Native

Extant

Andorra

Native

Extant

Yes

Armenia

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Austria

Native

Extant

Yes

Azerbaijan

Native

Extant

Yes

Bahrain

Vagrant

Extant

Yes

Bangladesh

Vagrant

Extant

Belarus

Native

Extant

Yes

Belgium

Native

Extant

Yes

Benin

Native

Extant

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Native

Extant

Yes

Botswana

Native

Extant

Bulgaria

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Burkina Faso

Native

Extant

Burundi

Native

Extant

Cameroon

Native

Extant

Cape Verde

Vagrant

Extant

Central African Republic

Native

Extant

Chad

Native

Extant

China (mainland)

Native

Extant

Yes

Congo

Vagrant

Extant

Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Native

Extant

Côte d'Ivoire

Native

Extant

Croatia

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Cyprus

Native

Extant

Yes

Czech Republic

Native

Extant

Yes

Denmark

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Djibouti

Native

Extant

Egypt

Native

Extant

Eritrea

Native

Extant

Estonia

Native

Extant

Yes

Ethiopia

Native

Extant

Finland

Native

Extant

Yes

France

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Gambia

Native

Extant

Georgia

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Germany

Native

Extant

Yes

Ghana

Native

Extant

Gibraltar (to UK)

Native

Extant

Yes

Greece

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Guinea

Native

Extant

Guinea-Bissau

Native

Extant

Hungary

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Iceland

Vagrant

Extant

India

Native

Extant

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Iraq

Native

Extant

Yes

Ireland

Vagrant

Extant

Israel

Native

Extant

Italy

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Jordan

Native

Extant

Yes

Kazakhstan

Native

Extant

Yes

Kenya

Native

Extant

Kuwait

Native

Extant

Yes

Kyrgyzstan

Native

Extant

Yes

Latvia

Native

Extant

Yes

Lebanon

Native

Extant

Yes

Lesotho

Native

Extant

Liberia

Native

Extant

Libya

Native

Extant

Liechtenstein

Native

Extant

Yes

Lithuania

Native

Extant

Yes

Luxembourg

Native

Extant

Yes

Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of

Native

Extant

Yes

Malawi

Native

Extant

Maldives

Native

Extant

Mali

Native

Extant

Malta

Native

Extant

Mauritania

Native

Extant

Moldova

Native

Extant

Yes

Montenegro

Native

Extant

Yes

Morocco

Native

Extant

Mozambique

Native

Extant

Namibia

Native

Extant

Nepal

Native

Extant

Netherlands

Native

Extant

Yes

Niger

Native

Extant

Nigeria

Native

Extant

Norway

Vagrant

Extant

Oman

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Pakistan

Native

Extant

Palestinian Authority Territories

Native

Extant

Yes

Poland

Native

Extant

Yes

Portugal

Native

Extant

Yes

Qatar

Native

Extant

Yes

Romania

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Russia (Asian)

Native

Extant

Yes

Russia (Central Asian)

Native

Extant

Yes

Russia (European)

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Rwanda

Native

Extant

Saudi Arabia

Native

Extant

Yes

Senegal

Native

Extant

Serbia

Native

Extant

Yes

Sierra Leone

Native

Extant

Slovakia

Native

Extant

Yes

Slovenia

Native

Extant

Yes

Somalia

Native

Extant

South Africa

Native

Extant

South Sudan

Native

Extant

Yes

Spain

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Sri Lanka

Native

Extant

Sudan

Native

Extant

Swaziland

Native

Extant

Sweden

Native

Extant

Yes

Switzerland

Native

Extant

Yes

Syria

Native

Extant

Yes

Tajikistan

Native

Extant

Tanzania

Native

Extant

Togo

Native

Extant

Tunisia

Native

Extant

Turkey

Native

Extant

Yes

Turkmenistan

Native

Extant

Uganda

Native

Extant

Ukraine

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

United Arab Emirates

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

United Kingdom

Native

Extant

Yes

Uzbekistan

Native

Extant

Yes

Western Sahara

Native

Extant

Yemen

Native

Extant

Yes

Yes

Zambia

Native

Extant

Zimbabwe

Native

Extant

Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria

Country/Territory

IBA Name

IBA link

Austria

Austrian part of Hanság

Austria

Southern Seewinkel and Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen

Belarus

Al'manskija baloty

Belarus

Balota Zvaniec

Belarus

Kaz'jany

Belarus

Mid Prypiac'

Belarus

Polesie Reserve

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Livno karst field and Busko lake

Bulgaria

Adata-Tundzha

Bulgaria

Derventski Heights

Bulgaria

Ruy Mountain

Bulgaria

Sakar

Bulgaria

Straldzha Complex

Bulgaria

Western Strandzha

Bulgaria

Zlatiata

Croatia

Lower Sava river

Estonia

Alam-Pedja

Estonia

Nätsi-Võlla

Estonia

Soomaa

Estonia

Suursoo-Leidissoo

Estonia

Tuhu-Kesu

France

Anse de Fouras, baie d'Yves et marais de Rochefort

France

Baie de Bourgneuf et marais breton

France

Baie des Veys et Marais du Cotentin

France

Barois et Forêt de Clairvaux

France

Basse Vallée du Doubs : Dole Sud

France

Basses Corbières

France

Bassigny

France

Bazoncourt-Vigy

France

Brenne: Forêt de la Petite-Brenne

France

Crau

France

Estuaire de la Gironde : marais du Blayais

France

Estuaire de la Gironde : marais du Nord Médoc

France

Forêt de Citeaux et environs

France

Fresnes-en-Woëvre-Mars-la-Tour

France

Gorges de la Dourbie et causses avoisinants

France

Gorges de la Sioule

France

Gorges du Gardon

France

Haut Val d'Allier

France

Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais

France

Ile d'Oléron, marais de Brouage-Saint-Agnant

France

Les Couzes Nord

France

Marais poitevin et baie de l'Aiguillon

France

Marais salants de Noirmoutier

France

Minervois

France

Parc National des Cévennes

France

Petite Beauce

France

Plaine calcaire du sud Vendée

France

Plaine de Niort (nord-ouest)

France

Plaine de Niort (sud-est)

France

Plaine du Forez

France

Plaines de Saint-Jouin de Marne et d'Assais-les-Jumeaux

France

Plateau de Delme, Val de Petite Seille

France

Plateau de Valensole

France

Plateaux agricoles des environs de Frencq

France

Plateaux de Millevaches et de Gentioux

France

Sologne Bourbonnaise

France

Val d'Allier Bourbonnais

France

Val de Chiers et environs de Spincourt

France

Val de Saône

France

Vallée de la Conie et Beauce centrale

France

Vallée de la Loire : gorges de la Loire

France

Vallée de la Saône de Corre à Broye

France

Zones agricoles de la Hardt

Hungary

Alkaline pusztas of Upper Kiskunság

Hungary

Bodrogzug–Taktaköz

Hungary

Hanság

Hungary

Hortobágy and Tisza-to

Hungary

Szigetköz

Italy

Arezzo heathlands

Italy

Colfiorito

Italy

Magredi of Pordenone

Italy

Valle Bertuzzi and Goro lagoon

Italy

Venice lagoon

Latvia

Liepaja lake

Lithuania

Agricultural land near the Kalvarija settlement

Lithuania

Birzulius-Stervas marshes complex

Lithuania

Exploited Sulinkiai peatbog

Lithuania

Kamanos Strict NR

Lithuania

Nemunas delta regional Park

Lithuania

Tyruliai State Nature Reserve

Lithuania

Verkne river

Lithuania

Zuvintas Biosphere Reserve

Netherlands

Lauwersmeer

Poland

Biebrza river valley

Poland

Bzura River Valley

Poland

Chelm calcareous marshes

Poland

Lower Bug river valley

Poland

Middle Bug river valley

Poland

Upper Narew River Valley

Poland

Upper Nurzec River Valley

Poland

Warmia Site

Poland

Wizna Swamps

Poland

Wkra and Mlawka Rivers Valleys

Portugal

Campo Maior

Portugal

Castro Verde plains

Portugal

Cuba

Portugal

Estrela Mountains

Portugal

Gerês mountains

Portugal

Malcata mountains

Portugal

Monforte plains

Portugal

Montesinho and Nogueira mountains

Portugal

Mourão, Moura e Barrancos

Portugal

River Guadiana

Portugal

Sabôr and Maçãs

Portugal

Serra de Penha Garcia e Campina de Toulões

Portugal

Serras do Alvão e Marão

Portugal

Tejo estuary

Portugal

Vila Fernando

Romania

Aliman - Adamclisi

Romania

Babadag wood

Romania

Câmpia Crişurilor

Romania

Câmpia Nirului - Valea lerului

Romania

Cefa fish-ponds and Radvani wood

Romania

Danube Delta

Romania

Dobrogei gorge

Romania

Hagieni forest

Romania

Jijiei şi Miletinului fish-ponds

Romania

Kogălniceanu - Gura Ialomiţei

Serbia

Pester

Slovakia

Medzibodrozie

Slovakia

Puste Ulany-Zelenec

Spain

Azuaga-Llerena-Peraleda de Zaucejo

Spain

Bardenas Reales

Spain

Bienvenida-Usagre-Ribera del Fresno

Spain

Carrión-Frómista

Spain

Cinca river rice fields and steppe area

Spain

Condado-Campiña

Spain

Córdoba countryside

Spain

Gallocanta lake

Spain

Jaén countryside

Spain

La Cabrera mountain range

Spain

La Limia

Spain

La Serena

Spain

Lerida steppes

Spain

Montes Aquilanos range

Spain

Oropesa plains

Spain

Pela mountain range-Orellana reservoir-Zorita

Spain

Plain between Cáceres and Trujillo-Aldea del Cano

Spain

Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca

Spain

Quipar reservoir, Molino mountain range and Cagitán plains

Spain

Talamanca-Camarma

Spain

Tierra de Campiñas steppes

Spain

Tierra de Campos steppes

Spain

Trujillo-Torrecillas de la Tiesa

Spain

Villafáfila

Turkey

Balıkdamı

Turkey

Bulanık and Malazgirt Plains

Turkey

Eşmekaya Marshes

Turkey

Tuz Lake

Turkey

Yüksekova

Ukraine

Chonovyny marsh

Ukraine

Forests in Dnipro and Desna valleys

Ukraine

Pryp'yat' river valley

Ukraine

Samars'kyj forest

Ukraine

Shats'ki lakes

Ukraine

Turiya river valley

United Kingdom

The Wash

United Kingdom

The Wash

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1)

Habitat (level 2)

Importance

Occurrence

Artificial/Terrestrial

Arable Land

suitable

breeding

Artificial/Terrestrial

Arable Land

suitable

non-breeding

Artificial/Terrestrial

Plantations

suitable

breeding

Grassland

Subtropical/Tropical Dry

suitable

non-breeding

Grassland

Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude

suitable

non-breeding

Grassland

Temperate

suitable

breeding

Shrubland

Temperate

suitable

breeding

Wetlands (inland)

Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands

suitable

breeding

Wetlands (inland)

Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands

suitable

non-breeding

Altitude

0 - 4000 m

Occasional altitudinal limits

Utilisation

Purpose

Primary form used

Life stage used

Source

Scale

Level

Timing

Pets

Whole

Adults and juveniles

Wild

International

Trivial

Recent

Sport

Whole

Adults and juveniles

Wild

Subsistence, National

Non-trivial

Recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Circus pygargus. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 03/03/2015.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2015) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 03/03/2015.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000)
Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004)
Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife